Nissan’s China-powered revival: BYD Shark-Rivalling Navara Pro, Prado-challenging Terrano SUV and NX8 Tesla Model Y beater on the cards

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Nissan is seriously evaluating exactly which global products will populate its Australian line-up going forward. 

Of particular interest are the Chinese joint-venture Nissan-Dongfeng-developed vehicles such as the plug-in-hybrid Frontier Pro ute (expected to be badged here as Navara Pro), NX8 medium SUV, and body-on-frame Terrano SUV.

Nissan’s global corporate executive for family, product and component strategy, Richard Candler, told Chasing Cars there’s plenty of potential among the brand’s international models for Australian showrooms. 

Having confessed his love for Australia and its car culture, British-born Candler says he wants to help turn around Nissan’s dwindling presence in our market (it finished 2025 with a market share of just 2.9 percent – down from 3.7 percent in ’24 – placing it outside the Top 10 manufacturers).

“I didn’t really understand why we’re not stronger – I sort of felt like we could do more in Australia. So it’s my ambition and mission now to see what we can do to make [Nissan’s Aussie sales] a bit stronger.

“In the case of the China products [co-developed with Dongfeng], there’s some good opportunities for Australia. Absolutely, we’re looking very seriously about how we enrich the line-up. 

“We need to balance off the NVES emission side of things as well, so that’s an important element … [and] right-hand drive is something we need to work on,” he says.

Candler began by referencing Nissan’s forthcoming three-row, body-on-frame SUV – based on the Frontier/Navara Pro ute – which debuted at the Beijing Auto Show and revives the ‘Terrano’ nameplate. 

“That three-row frame SUV is a very good candidate [for] Australia, sourced from China,” says Candler. “We need a bit more time to firm up the next stage … but the good news is that China [moves] quickly. So once we’ve finalised the business case, we can bring these [products] quite quickly.

“In the case of the Frontier/Navara Pro-type product, right-hand drive is one thing that we need to work through. The second is probably powertrain.

“Australian requirements of powertrain are a bit more severe – we need good towing, we need off-road capability, these sort of things – and this is something we need to look at on that product [the plug-in hybrid ute] to make sure it’s capable,” says Candler.

“On the Terrano SUV, that’s somehow already designed in from the base. It’s sort of a dedicated product that for us is basically for export. So it’s a really good opportunity [for Australia],” says Candler. 

In theory, Terrano simultaneously provides a three-row replacement for the monocoque, V6-engined Pathfinder while serving as Nissan’s Toyota Prado, Denza B5 and GWM Tank 500 rival. 

The plug-in ute, meanwhile, looks to capitalise on the popularity of PHEV pick-ups, proven by the BYD Shark and GWM Cannon Alpha. 

“The other car which is maybe very interesting is the NX8,” says Candler – a medium SUV that Chasing Cars has already driven in electric big-battery form.

“This is a really cool car as well – one with a sort of flashing grille. It’s a really high-featured car with a lot of content.”

Candler said he sees broad potential for the NX8. “This is one of the priority cars that we will take on a broad global axis, for sure. We’re [currently] discussing with the teams about how we do that, but really what we’ve confirmed already is the N7 [electric sedan] and the Frontier Pro [ute]. 

“We’ve confirmed some markets for both of those products – they’re the front runners – and NX8 will come shortly after those cars.”

As for whether Nissan’s joint-venture products can avoid the pitfalls of other Chinese products in terms of inadequate calibration and unsuitability for Australian road surfaces, Candler is adamant that Nissan global has that covered.

“My team have tested these cars in Australia already, and [have] already made recommendations for tuning. 

“Obviously, what’s good for China is not necessarily directly transferable. We know the requirements for Australia. The team know very well – they’re driving these cars in Australia and understanding what the requirements would be. So, yeah, please don’t worry about that.

“I mean, that’s the advantage of having a 90-year-old company. We know how to make cars. We know what the requirement is, and we make sure that’s embedded.

While Candler didn’t mention any volume goals for Australia, Nissan global is bullish about what it hopes to achieve in its main markets. The aim by FY30 is 550,000 annual sales in Japan, 1 million annually in the US, and 1 million annually in China.

Last year, Nissan sold 3.2 million vehicles globally (down four percent) and dropped out of the Top 10 international automakers. 

“You’ve given me a long homework list. So let me try. Let me see,” says Candler, taking on the feedback from Australian motoring media as he quietly ponders what it might take to give Nissan Australia some genuine cut-through going forward.